EP3622214B1 - Lighting device for a vehicle - Google Patents

Lighting device for a vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3622214B1
EP3622214B1 EP18733672.2A EP18733672A EP3622214B1 EP 3622214 B1 EP3622214 B1 EP 3622214B1 EP 18733672 A EP18733672 A EP 18733672A EP 3622214 B1 EP3622214 B1 EP 3622214B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
optical element
reflector
light
lighting device
light source
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP18733672.2A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3622214C0 (en
EP3622214A1 (en
Inventor
Mihael Trcek
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hella Saturnus Slovenija doo
Original Assignee
Hella Saturnus Slovenija doo
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hella Saturnus Slovenija doo filed Critical Hella Saturnus Slovenija doo
Publication of EP3622214A1 publication Critical patent/EP3622214A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3622214C0 publication Critical patent/EP3622214C0/en
Publication of EP3622214B1 publication Critical patent/EP3622214B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F21S41/143—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
    • F21S41/255—Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
    • F21S41/265—Composite lenses; Lenses with a patch-like shape
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
    • F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
    • F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
    • F21S41/321—Optical layout thereof the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a lighting device for a a vehicle lamp comprising a light source, at least one reflector which directs the light emanating in the light source, and at least one optical element such as a lens which collects and emanates the light of the desired shape directed by the reflector into desired direction.
  • a lighting device comprising a light source, at least one reflector, and at least one optical element is generally known.
  • the light source emits the light
  • the optical element such as a lens
  • the optical element can not use the light entirely due to the physical limitations thereof. As a result, part of the light is lost, whereby the efficiency of the light quantity emitted by the light source comparing to the light quantity which leaves the optical element is reduced.
  • EP 1 126 210 A2 describes a lighting device, comprising a light source, a reflector, and at least one optical element which collects and emanates the light of the desired shape directed by the reflector into the desired direction, said light source is attached to a first end of the reflector, wherein said primary optical element is at least piecewise continuously formed in the region of its outer edge, which lies close to the reflector, with at least one additional optical element, wherein the primary optical element is arranged at a second, wider end of the reflector opposite to the light source.
  • Documents GB 180 805 , CH 258 631 and DE 10 2007 062 593 A1 disclose further lighting devices for a vehicle lamp.
  • a lighting device comprises a reflector 1, at least one primary optical element 2 and at least one light source 3.
  • Said reflector 1 can resemble a one- part form or a multi-part form, whereby in the latter case said reflector can be divided and combined in one or more planes, such as in a horizontal plane and/or a vertical plane.
  • Said at least one light source 3, which emits the light into the entire space in front of it, i.e. +/- 90° in horizontal direction and +/- 90° in vertical direction, is associated with a first, narrower end of the funnel shaped reflector 1.
  • said light source 3 can be selected as a halogen source, xenon source, laser source, LED source and similar.
  • Said reflector 1 collects the rest of the light emitted by the light source 3 and directs it in desired shape into desired direction.
  • the rest of the light refers to the part of the light emanating the light source 3, which can not be directed in desired shape into desired direction by the optical element 2 due to the physical limitations thereof.
  • Said primary optical element 2 arranged at a second, wider end of the reflector 1 and opposite to the light source 3 directs the part of the light emanated by the light source 3 in desired shape into desired direction.
  • the primary optical element 2 is produced of a light- permeable material, i.e. a transparent or translucent material such as glass, synthetic material and similar.
  • the side of the primary optical element 2 facing the light source 3 is formed either planar, or it can comprise in at least one direction of the extension thereof, viewed in a plane, at least two regions each formed in a sense of a piecewise continuous function, when viewed in a cross section.
  • Said primary optical element 2 can resemble either a one-part form, as a single integral part having different optical properties, or can be assembled in a manner known per se of multiple parts each having different optical properties.
  • said primary optical element 2 is at least piecewise continuously formed in the area of its outer edge, which lies close to the reflector 1, with at least one additional optical element 4 made of a light-permeable material, i.e. a transparent or translucent material such as glass, synthetic material and similar.
  • Said additional optical element 4 can be either an integral part of the primary optical element 2 or is removably associated with the primary optical element 2. In a case when the additional optical element 4 is removably associated with the primary optical element 2, an embodiment of the vehicle lamp is possible where said additional optical element 2 is omitted.
  • Said light source 3 emanates the light in the full range 5 in direction from said narrower section of the reflector 1 towards said wider section of the reflector 1. Due to its physical properties and limitations, said optical element 2 can utilize only a smaller range 6 of the light of said full range 5. As a result, the rest range 7', 7" of the light emanated by the light source 3 and directed by the reflector 1 is lost.
  • said primary optical element 2 is piecewise continuously formed in the region of its outer edge, which lies close to the reflector 1, with at least one additional optical element 4. Said at least one additional optical element 4 has impact on the light range 7', 7" in a manner that it influences the direction and the shape of the light flow.
  • Said primary optical element 2 is formed in a manner that, optionally, shapes by means of the light range 5 a light-dark boundary of the lamp of the vehicle, meaning that above the light-dark boundary the light is either present or absent.
  • Said reflector 1 directs the light range 7', 7" through said additional optical element 4 such that it can generate an additional light-dark boundary of the lamp of the vehicle, which lies above and below the light-dark boundary created by the primary optical element 2, or which lies at the light-dark boundary created by the primary optical element 2.
  • the light-dark boundary of the primary optical element 2 to coincide with the additional light-dark boundary of the additional optical element 4.
  • Yet another possibility provides for the additional light-dark boundary to be absent, and the additional optical element 4 redirects the light range 7', 7" to the desired region and with desired light distribution.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Description

  • The present invention refers to a lighting device for a a vehicle lamp comprising a light source, at least one reflector which directs the light emanating in the light source, and at least one optical element such as a lens which collects and emanates the light of the desired shape directed by the reflector into desired direction.
  • A lighting device comprising a light source, at least one reflector, and at least one optical element is generally known. The light source emits the light, however, the optical element, such as a lens, can not use the light entirely due to the physical limitations thereof. As a result, part of the light is lost, whereby the efficiency of the light quantity emitted by the light source comparing to the light quantity which leaves the optical element is reduced.
  • EP 1 126 210 A2 describes a lighting device, comprising a light source, a reflector, and at least one optical element which collects and emanates the light of the desired shape directed by the reflector into the desired direction, said light source is attached to a first end of the reflector, wherein said primary optical element is at least piecewise continuously formed in the region of its outer edge, which lies close to the reflector, with at least one additional optical element, wherein the primary optical element is arranged at a second, wider end of the reflector opposite to the light source. Documents GB 180 805 , CH 258 631 and DE 10 2007 062 593 A1 disclose further lighting devices for a vehicle lamp.
  • It is the object of the present invention to create a lighting device which remedies drawbacks of the known solution and in particular to improve the efficiency of the lighting device with comparatively little additional technical effort.
  • According to the present invention, the object as set above is solved by features set forth in claim 1. Detail of the invention is disclosed in respective dependent claims.
  • The invention is further described in detail by way of non-limiting embodiment, and with a reference to the accompanying drawings, where
    • Fig. 1 a schematic cross-sectional view of a lighting device according to the invention,
    • Fig. 2 an embodiment of the lighting device of Fig. 1,
    • Fig. 3 a second embodiment of the lighting device of Fig. 1 and does not form part of the invention.
  • A lighting device according to the invention comprises a reflector 1, at least one primary optical element 2 and at least one light source 3. Said reflector 1 can resemble a one- part form or a multi-part form, whereby in the latter case said reflector can be divided and combined in one or more planes, such as in a horizontal plane and/or a vertical plane. Said at least one light source 3, which emits the light into the entire space in front of it, i.e. +/- 90° in horizontal direction and +/- 90° in vertical direction, is associated with a first, narrower end of the funnel shaped reflector 1. For instance, said light source 3 can be selected as a halogen source, xenon source, laser source, LED source and similar. Said reflector 1 collects the rest of the light emitted by the light source 3 and directs it in desired shape into desired direction. Herein, the rest of the light refers to the part of the light emanating the light source 3, which can not be directed in desired shape into desired direction by the optical element 2 due to the physical limitations thereof.
  • Said primary optical element 2 arranged at a second, wider end of the reflector 1 and opposite to the light source 3 directs the part of the light emanated by the light source 3 in desired shape into desired direction. The primary optical element 2 is produced of a light- permeable material, i.e. a transparent or translucent material such as glass, synthetic material and similar. The side of the primary optical element 2 facing the light source 3 is formed either planar, or it can comprise in at least one direction of the extension thereof, viewed in a plane, at least two regions each formed in a sense of a piecewise continuous function, when viewed in a cross section. Said primary optical element 2 can resemble either a one-part form, as a single integral part having different optical properties, or can be assembled in a manner known per se of multiple parts each having different optical properties.
  • Furthermore, it is provided for according to the present invention that said primary optical element 2 is at least piecewise continuously formed in the area of its outer edge, which lies close to the reflector 1, with at least one additional optical element 4 made of a light-permeable material, i.e. a transparent or translucent material such as glass, synthetic material and similar. Said additional optical element 4 can be either an integral part of the primary optical element 2 or is removably associated with the primary optical element 2. In a case when the additional optical element 4 is removably associated with the primary optical element 2, an embodiment of the vehicle lamp is possible where said additional optical element 2 is omitted.
  • Said light source 3 emanates the light in the full range 5 in direction from said narrower section of the reflector 1 towards said wider section of the reflector 1. Due to its physical properties and limitations, said optical element 2 can utilize only a smaller range 6 of the light of said full range 5. As a result, the rest range 7', 7" of the light emanated by the light source 3 and directed by the reflector 1 is lost. In order to prevent said loss of said light range 7', said primary optical element 2 is piecewise continuously formed in the region of its outer edge, which lies close to the reflector 1, with at least one additional optical element 4. Said at least one additional optical element 4 has impact on the light range 7', 7" in a manner that it influences the direction and the shape of the light flow.
  • Said primary optical element 2 is formed in a manner that, optionally, shapes by means of the light range 5 a light-dark boundary of the lamp of the vehicle, meaning that above the light-dark boundary the light is either present or absent. Said reflector 1 directs the light range 7', 7" through said additional optical element 4 such that it can generate an additional light-dark boundary of the lamp of the vehicle, which lies above and below the light-dark boundary created by the primary optical element 2, or which lies at the light-dark boundary created by the primary optical element 2. There is also a possibility for the light-dark boundary of the primary optical element 2 to coincide with the additional light-dark boundary of the additional optical element 4. Yet another possibility provides for the additional light-dark boundary to be absent, and the additional optical element 4 redirects the light range 7', 7" to the desired region and with desired light distribution.

Claims (7)

  1. A lighting device for a vehicle lamp, comprising a light source, at least one reflector which directs the light emanating in the light source, and at least one optical element which collects and emanates the light of the desired shape directed by the reflector into desired direction, said light source (3) is attached to a first end of the reflector (1) and said primary optical element (2) is attached to the opposite end of the reflector (1), the reflector (1) being funnel shaped with a first narrow end and a second wider end,
    wherein said primary optical element (2) is at least piecewise continuously formed in the region of its outer edge which lies close to the reflector (1), with at least one additional optical element (4),
    wherein a central longitudinal axis extends from the first end of the reflector to the second end of the reflector (1), and the light source (3) and the primary optical element (2) are centered on the central longitudinal axis, and
    wherein the reflector (1), the primary optical element (2) and the additional optical element (4) are rotationally symmetrical with respect to the central longitudinal axis,
    wherein said primary optical element (2) is arranged at the second, wider end of the reflector (1) and opposite to the light source (3), characterized in that
    said at least one additional optical element (4) impacts on the light in the rest range (7', 7"), which is part of the light emanated by the light source (3) in full range (5) and directed by the reflector (1) but not utilized by said primary optical element (2), in a manner that said at least one additional optical element (4) influences the direction and the shape of the light flow, wherein said light source (3) emanates the light in the full range (5) in direction from said narrower first end of the reflector (1) towards said second wider end of the reflector (1), and said primary optical element (2) utilizes a smaller range (6) of the light of said full range (5).
  2. A lighting device according to claim 1, characterized in that said additional optical element (4) is an integral part of the primary optical element (2).
  3. A lighting device according to claim 1, characterized in that said additional optical element (4) is removably associated with the primary optical element (2).
  4. A lighting device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said additional optical element (4) is made of a light-permeable material, that is of transparent or translucent material, such as glass, synthetic material and similar.
  5. A lighting device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said reflector (1) resembles a one-part form.
  6. A lighting device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said reflector (1) resembles a multi-part form.
  7. A lighting device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one primary optical element is a lens.
EP18733672.2A 2017-05-08 2018-05-07 Lighting device for a vehicle Active EP3622214B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SI201700126A SI25423A (en) 2017-05-08 2017-05-08 Light body
PCT/IB2018/053141 WO2018207070A1 (en) 2017-05-08 2018-05-07 Lighting device for a vehicle

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3622214A1 EP3622214A1 (en) 2020-03-18
EP3622214C0 EP3622214C0 (en) 2024-04-17
EP3622214B1 true EP3622214B1 (en) 2024-04-17

Family

ID=62713034

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18733672.2A Active EP3622214B1 (en) 2017-05-08 2018-05-07 Lighting device for a vehicle

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3622214B1 (en)
SI (1) SI25423A (en)
WO (1) WO2018207070A1 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE69922431T2 (en) * 1998-04-17 2005-12-15 Stanley Electric Co. Ltd. Lamp, in particular for vehicles or traffic signal systems

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3904760B2 (en) * 1999-05-17 2007-04-11 株式会社小糸製作所 Vehicle sign light
JP3904783B2 (en) * 1999-11-30 2007-04-11 株式会社小糸製作所 Vehicle sign light
JP3488960B2 (en) * 2000-02-18 2004-01-19 スタンレー電気株式会社 Vehicle headlights
JP4044352B2 (en) * 2001-03-27 2008-02-06 スタンレー電気株式会社 head lamp

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE69922431T2 (en) * 1998-04-17 2005-12-15 Stanley Electric Co. Ltd. Lamp, in particular for vehicles or traffic signal systems

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3622214C0 (en) 2024-04-17
EP3622214A1 (en) 2020-03-18
WO2018207070A1 (en) 2018-11-15
SI25423A (en) 2018-11-30

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